Spring nut-locking device for rail joints



Feb. 24, 1931.

SPRING NUT LOCKING DEVICE FOR RAIL JOINTS Filed July 2, 1929 H. G. NORWOOD 1,793,745

. M J v/l/l' 'M Patented Feb. 24, 1931 HARRY G. NOR-WOOD, F NEXV YORK, N. Y.

PATENT ASSIGHOR- TO THEODORE F. VON BORN, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPRING NUT-LOCKING DEVICE FER RAIL JOINTS Application filed. July 2,

T his invention pertains to an improved and novel spring nut locking device, especially designed for use in connection with railway oint locks.

The main object of the invention is to provide simple, strong, durable, economical, practical and efficient means whereby the meeting ends of the rails will always be locked and maintained in proper alinement.

Another object of the invention is to so construct reliable and effective means from a single piece of spring steel made in bars and rolled to the desired width, then heated, punched out and the bar folded upon itself centrally throughout its length, thus forming a single plate or bar with an inner and an outer member, each of said members being stamped 0r forged outwardly or inwardly at its central portion, thus forming a device for securely locking two bolts and nuts at the same time, and furnishing the desired spring resistance against the nut under all conditions.

The foregoing and such other objects as 93 may appear from the ensuing description are attained by the construction, arrangement, location and combination of the several parts hereinafter more fully described, il-

lustrated in the accompanying drawings and 39 particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that slight changes in the precise shape, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacri- [icing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification it will be seen that:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the means embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken in the plane of the dotted lines 22, Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the locking device, nuts, and bolts, showing in longitudinal section a portion of the rail joint splice bar broken away.

Figure 4@ is an enlarged perspective of the locking bar detached from the rail joint, and

Figure 5 is a similar perspective showing a slightly modified form of locking bar.

In the embodiment of my invention as il- 1929. Serial no. 275,373.

lustrated, it will be seen that the numeral 1 indicates the track rails, 52 the rail clamping or splice bars, each of said bars being formed with openings therethrough for the reception of the securing bolts 3, each bolt being passed through suitable openings formed through the track rails and the opening in the splice bars, and securely fitted to the threaded end portion of each bolt is a securing nut at, said nuts being preferably titted so as to alternate ion opposite sides of the rail joint.

it will be readily percieved that this invention provides a novel and peculiarly constructed locking plate or bar 5 of a single piece of metal, preferably formed from heat treated spring steel usually employed for like purposes, said plate being adapted to overlap the meeting ends of the rails and is firmly secured under high tension in contact with the outer face of each of the clamping or splice bars 2 by the two securing bolts and nuts disposed nearest the meeting ends of the track rails, each locking plate 5 being folded along its longitudinal central portion to form an outer upright member 6 and an inner upright member 6, and a butt opening 7 formed 'hrough each member near each end portion thereof, and with an outwardly and vertically disposed central portion 8, said plate or bar being so constructed that either face thereof may be secured adjacent to andnin contiwt with the outer face of the clamping or lice bar 2.

it will be clearly evident from this particular construction of locking plate or bar that when it shall have been firmly secured in contact with the rail clamping or splice bars 2, that the proper adjustment and tight ening of the securing nuts will have a tendency to force each end port-ion of the inner member 6 lengthwise in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 3 and at the same time force each end portion of the outer member 6 lengthwise in the direction of the arrows also shown in said Fig. 3, thus causing the edges of the bolt openings formed through the lock bar or plate to firmly bite against the threads and peripheral portion of each bolt, while at the same time the outer memher will be under high outward spring pressure in contact with the nuts thus causing the nuts to be forced under extreme pressure into contact with the threaded portions of the bolts, hence when each nut shall have been completely and properly adjusted all accidental turning and loosening of the nuts, usually caused by the excessive jarring which emanates from the rolling stock passing over the joints, will be prevented.

it will also be understood that in the event that the splice bar should become accidentally broken, this type of locking plate possessing unusual strength will readily serve to retain the rails in proper alinement until the break is discovered and repaired, thereby preventing what is known as lipping of the track rails which is liable to cause a derailment of the rolling stock.

It will be readily obvious that any required or desired number of holes may be formed through the ends of the track rails and through the splice bars, and that any suitable number of bolts and securing nuts may be employed in the proper locking of the rail joint.

The slightly modified form of locking plate or bar 9 shown in 5, shows the longitudinally folded or upright members 10 and 10 formed with an inwardly, vertically and oppositely disposed central portion 11 and ll, respectively, said plate or bar 9 being provided with an opening formed therethrough near each of its ends for the reception of a securing bolt, and so constructed that when the securing nut is properly adjusted on the screw-threaded end of the bolt, the inward forcing or tightening of the nut at each end portion of said plate will have a tendency to force the upright members 10 and 10 in the direction of the arrows shown at each end portion thereof, thereby causing the edges of the bolt openings to be forced against the threaded portions of the bolts thus causing the edges of the bolt openings to bite against the threaded portion of said bolts. while the outer member 10 is retained under a high tension in an outwardly direc tion thereby forcing the securing nut adapted to rest against the outer face of said member 10 into intense engagement with the threaded portion of the bolt, hence the tighter the nut is adjusted inwardly the more intense will be the clamping action of said plate in contact with the securing bolt and nut, as will be readily obvious.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A rail joint locking plate adapted to simultaneously lock two nuts and bolts, said plate being formed of a single piece of spring steel folded upon itself along its longitudinal central portion, and with vertical outwardly disposed formations centrally of its length.

2. A rail joint locking plate made from a single piece of metal folded upon itself along its longitiulinal central portion forming two separated upright members, each member being provided with an outward vertically disposed formation centrally to its length adapted to contact with a rail joint splice bar.

3. A rail joint locking plate or bar formed of a single piece of spring steelvbent upon itself longitudinally throughout its length forming two separated upright members having a bolt opening formed therethrough near each end portion thereof, and a vertically dis posed bent central portion formed in each upright member.

A rail joint locking plate or bar made from a single piece of spring steel fold-ed along its longitudinal central portion forming two upright ll'lOll'lllQlS, each of said members being provided with a, vertically disposed rec ed portion centrally thereof, and a bolt opei ing formed through each member near each end portion thereof.

HARRY G. NORlVOOD. 

